Machine for refolding paper tubes.



N0. 709,502. Patend Sept. 23, i902.

H. S. MUNSON.

.MACHINE FDR HEFOLDHNG PAPER TUBES.

(Application filed Aug. 4. 1898.)

@mw @Mwah @any No. 709,502. Patented Sept. 23, |902:

H. S. MUNSON.

MACHINE FOB REFDLDING PAPER TUBES.

(Application led Aug. 4. 1898i 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

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Patented Sept. 23, |902. H. S. MUNSUN. `MACHINE FOR HEFLDING PAPERTUBES.

(Application filed Aug. 4, 1898 3 Sheetsl$heet 3.

(No Mendel.)

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*mi Nonms Ps fans UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARVEY S. MUNSON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR REFOLDING PAPER TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,502, datedSeptember 23, 1902.

Application filed August 4, 1898. Serial No. 687,700. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern/ A13e it knownthat 1, HARVEY S. MUNsoN, acitizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, county of NewHaven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Refolding Paper Tubes, fully described andrepresented in the following specification and the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of the same.

The object of this invention is to render supple or limp the definedlines upon which a flat blank must be bent to form it into a hollow tubethat is to receive and act as the container for contents, as a slide,entered into it. Two of these lines of folding are necessarily doubledin the act of forming the flat tube by folding inwardly its sides anduniting them, while the remaining two defined lines for folding remainin their primary or unfolded condition. Primarily, said unfolded ordefined lines are rendered limp or supple by bending or folding themsufficiently to bring the fiat tube up into hollow form, Aandincidentally this necessarily opens up or refolds the once-folded lines.4This operation of opening up or bending the tube upon its folding-linesis called refolding and it isaccomplished by the present improvements ina machine embodying this invention in a most simple and effectivestructure, the several novel features whereof are too fully hereinafterdescribed and claimed to need preliminary explanation, except to saythat the essential characteristic of the mechanisms is a pair of groovedside carrying-belts whose planes of travel gradually contract from theirreceiving to their delivering ends,

one of which belts also runs in a plane in the other direction,constantly varying vertically from that in which its companion runs,whereby the outer edges of the tube are cornpelled to so travel inmoving inward as to gradually contract the tube widthwise and expand itin the other direction, its planes of travel being so changed by thecombined strains thus imparted to it as to force or convert its flattubular condition in which it is formed into or cause it to assume ahollow or outspread tubular one, from which it may reassume or becollapsed into its flat tubular condition, it having thus been so foldedand refolded upon its folding-lines that the same will readily bend whenthe tube or short sections of a long tubo are to assume a hollow tubularform in practical use, when they must be readily moved on theirfold-lines while being worked, either by hand manipulation or apacking-machine, during the operation of filling them as containers withtheir contents.

In the accompanying drawings, which represent a machine capable ofpractically carrying this invention into use, Figure 1 is a plan or topView of such machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig.` 3 is alongitudinal sectional elevation thereof on the line 3 of Fig. 1, apaper-box tube being shown undergoing the operation of being refolded.Fig. 4 is a like longitudinal sectional elevation, no tube being shownas undergoing the refolding operation. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectionalelevation taken on the line 5 of Fig. 1, as seen looking in thedirection of the attached arrow, which is contrary to that of the travelof the tube through the machine. Figs. '7, S, and 9 are enlargedcross-sectional elevations taken, respectively, on the sectionlines 6,7, 8, and 9 of Fig. 1, as seen looking in the direction of the arrowsconnected with said lines, which is that of the travel of the tubethrough the machine, whereby the various forms assumed by the tube as itis operated upon and refolded are rendered perspicuous.

The principal mechanisms are a pair of grooved side carrying-belts S9,which,though preferably of leather, may be of any material so long asthey are strong and durable enough to form when stretched stable bounds,between which the paper tube will be carried onward, without forcingthem apart sufficiently to modify their refolding action upon the tube;but lighter belts may be used when held in place by suitable bearers, aswill hereinafter appear. These belts 8 9 are led about and driven bypairs of pulleys 1'2 13 and 14 15, which pulleys are preferably flangedto better hold the belts in place. (See Figs. 6 and 9.) These pulleys 1213 are mounted fast upon spindles that are respectively provided withmiter-gears 2O 2l, that mesh with companion miter-gears 2:2 23, carriedby the driving-shaft 24, and this gearing drives the beltpulleys 14 15,which are idlers, through the belts 8 9.

From Fig. 6 it will be observed that the pulleys 12 13 have acommonhorizontal plane IOO of motion, and from Figs. 5 and 9 (View seen in theopposite direction) it will be observed that the pulleys 14 and l5revolve in separate horizontal planes, the plane in which pulley 15revolves being in common with that in which the pulleys 12 and 13revolve.

By comparing Fig. 6 with Fig. 9 it will further be observed that. thebelt-pulleys 14 15 are set nearer together than are the pulleys 12 13,or,in other words,thebearing-points'of the carrying-belts between thepulleys 12 and 13 (the tube entrance) are at a distance apart equal tothe width of the outspread or flat tube, while the distance between thebearing-points of the carrying-belts between the pulleys 14 15 (the exitof the tube) are ata distance apart equal to that of the outside bearingedges of the tube when in the opened-up or hollow tubular form, which isits refolding degree of outward spread.

When the flattened tu be is entered between the belts 8 9, its borderedges or outer folds engage the grooves of these belts at about equalpoints widthwise thereof, and since the belt 9 moves horizontally theedge of the tube bearing in it is car'ried horizontally by it throughthe machine; but as the groove of the belt 8 runs obliquely it resultsthat the edge of the tube which is carried by the belt 8 is constantlyand progressively lifted, or, in other words, that the opposite edges orouter folds of the tube are progressively moved toward each other bybeing caused to travel or advance in planes constantly converging, andbecause of the belts 8 9 progressively diverging edgewise as the exitend is approached it follows that the top and bottom plies of the flattube are constantly and progressively moved away from each otherconcertedly with the like movement of the sides of the tube toward eachother, by which combined movements of its component walls the flattenedcondition of said tube, as seen in Fig. 6, is gradually changed to thatof an open tube, as seen in Fig. 9, which transformation in beingaccomplished forces the component sides, top, and bottom of the tube tolnove Y with respect to each other upon'the deued folding-lines whereona fiat. blank is doubled to form the tube and whereby said lines arefolded and unfolded or refolded, and thus are so worked as to softentheir resistance or cause them to become supple or limp. Iuorder togovern the opening up of this flat tube and cause its topand bottomplies to aid the operation, or, in other words, always secure kprecisionin this operation,l arrange longitudinally between the belts 8 9stationary guides 10 ll (they may be twisted) or sectional equivalentsthereofthat is to say, guides that. may bear throughout the length ot'the travel of the box-tube, or substantially so, iu such manner as toprovide suitable bearing-points in differing planes to properly supportthe tube to the action of the belts while preventing buckling, and theseguides have their bearings preferably diminished to narrow di- .fulcrulumensions or edges. The upper guide 10 is preferably narrow-facedthroughout, though its last bearing may be of considerable substance andflatly bear upon a considerable portion of the top of the tube, or itmay be bent inward from its plane near that point to aid a substantialrefolding of the upper corner at that time. The lower guide 11preferablyhas generally throughout its principal extent a narrowbearing-face next to the boxtube, though it mayat its terminal end be ofconsiderable substance, so as to flatly bear upon a considerable portionof the underside of the tube, or it may be bent inward from its planenear that point, and thus insure that the adjacent doubled edge or lowercorner of the same shall be sufficiently bent for a distance .inwardfrom this corner and compel its double edge to receive a substantialfold. Any suitable means for sustaining these guides in place may beused, that shown as convenient and suitable being the carryingelbow 26for the guide 10, secured by setscrew 28 to the bearer 29, and thecarryingelbow 3l for the guide 11, secured by set-screw 34 to the bearer30. These guides are preferably made adjustable by means of slots intheir elbows, thatem brace their fastening setscrews. These bearers 293() are usefully and preferably provided to prevent any undue sagging orbuckling of the belts, and they are set edgewise or in substantialparallelism with and along the outer sides of the belts 8 9 and are heldin place by elbow-brackets 35 36 and 37 38, having elongated socketsWhereby they maybe adjustably held by retainingscrews 39 40 41 42.

As thus far described, assuming the machine to have been built for thetreatment of a given size of box-tube, as a standard cigarette-box tube,its operation will be readily understood.

folded edges entered into the grooves of the belts 8 9, as in Fig. 6.rlhe leading end of this tube, very slightly pressed open by the act ofintroducing it, is frictionally seized by contact of the grooves of thebelts with its opposite folded edges,and thus caused to take up themovement of the belts. It is carried continuously and progressivelyonward and is regularly compressed or narrowed up widthwise, so that theopposite sidesaud top and bottom plies lnove in opposite directions,each connected side and ply bending on the outermost folded corner ascontracting-fulcrums and each such side and ply bending on one of theremaining folded corners as an enlarging- As this movement proceeds thetube is caused to assume a rhomboidal form,

as in Fig. 7, then becomes rectangular, as in Fig. 8, then moving stillfarther assumes a rhomboidal form beyond the rectangular, this IOOconversion of the transverse form of it taking up the shapesintermediate those illustrated, and thus the flat tube of Fig. 6 isopened out by its walls moving upon its lines of fold untilitsconnecting folds are moved from an inward folded condition into anobtuse-angled fold and its .unfolded lines are moved from the fiat orunfolded condition and folded or bent into the acute-angled fold shownin Fig. 9. The tube thus treated has all of its fold-` ing-lines broughtinto that supple, limp, or refolded condition suiting them forconvenient manipulation in forming them into containers for contents andloading them therewith. Paper tubes of this character are nowextensively made in varying sizes, the refolding of which various-sizedtubes is pro vided for in this machine, as follows: The spindles of thebelt-pulleys 12 13 have their bearings iu boxes 4 5, that are capable ofmoving laterally by means of sliders that bear in facing-ways cut in asliding` carrier-block 44. These boxes 4 5 are respectively providedwith adjusting-screws 45 46, having their inner ends connectedrotatively to said boxes and having` their threaded shanks turning,respectively, in threaded nuts 47 48, fixed to the bed-plate, andbearing at their outer ends, respectively, hand operatingwheels 49 50.The carrier-block 44 slides longitudinally on ways provided for it ateach side of a recess in the bed-plate, being provided with anadjusting-screw 51, rotatively connected with the block 44, the threadedshank of said screw turning in a threaded nut 52, that is fast to thebed-plate and provided at its outer end with a hand operating-wheel 53.The spindles `of the belt-pulleys 14 15 have their bearings in boxes` 67, that are capable of moving laterally by means of sliders that bear infacing-ways cut in a sliding carrier-block 54. These boxes 6 7 arerespectively provided-with adjusting-screws 55 56, having their innerends connected rotatively to said boxes and having their threaded shanksturning, respectively, in threaded nuts 57 58, iixed to the bed-plateand bearing at their outer ends, respectively, hand operating-wheels 5960. The carrier-block 54 slides longitudinally on ways provided for itat each side of a recess in the bed-plate, being provided with anactuatingscrew 61, rotatively connected with the block 54, the threadedshank of said screw turning in a threaded nut 62, that is fast to thebedplate, and being provided at its outer end with a handoperating-wheel 63. When, therefore, it is desirable or necessary to adjust the handpulleys 12 13 or 14 15 to or from each other, this may beaccomplished by suitably turning the hand-wheels 49 50 or 59 60, andwhen this companion set of belt-pulleys 12 13 is to be adjusted bodilyto or from the companion set of belt-pulleys 14 15 this is readilyeffected by suitably turning the hand-wheels 53 62, one or both. Onesuch adjustment Y onlyis necessary, except where a very long tube is tobe treated, when it may be desirable t0 make both adjustments. If,however, the carrying-block 54 is to be adjustable, the bracket 64 willalso be appropriately adj usted by its slotted bearings andholdingscrews 65 66, provided for that purpose.

From the foregoing description and a consideration of the mechanisms,together with their mode of operation, itwill beunderstood that theguides 1011 are not essential to the refolding operation, thoughdesirable, or, stated otherwise, the grooved belts are capable withinthemselves of performing the refolding operation. It is, however, to beunderstood that short top and bottom guides at least are desirable andthat they are to be placed at or near the forward ends of the groovedbelts and that their use is preferred. These guides are preferablyemployed because their presence at or near the tinishing-point 'of therefolding operation provides for a positive refoldingoftheinnermostfoldinglinesorseams, and that this may be made mostpositive, as by an overfolding, the forward ends of these guides 10 and11 may be bent far enough inward as to cause such overbending of thesaid fold lines or seams.

What is claimed is 1. A. paper-tube-refolding mechanism comprising sidecarrying-belts whose planes of travel gradually approach from theirreceiving to their delivering points and which diverge edgewise, wherebyone edge of the longitudinally-creased tube is moved out of the plane inwhichthe other edge travels, and strains are exerted on the tube thatcause it to travel onward and to be gradually contracted widthwise andenlarged in the other direction and thus become folded on its creasedlines, and transform it from a dat or collapsed condition to a hollow ordistended one, substantially as described.

2.' A paper-tuberefolding mechanism comprising grooved sidecarryingbelts whose planes of travel gradually approach from theirreceiving to their delivering points with which are combined shortopposed guides that gradually separate from their receiving to theirdelivering points, whereby the space in which the tube is compelled totravel is gradually contracted widthwise and expanded in the otherdirection and strains are exerted `on the tube that cause its plies tomove laterally upon its folding-linesand transform it from a flat orcollapsed condition into a hollow or distended one, substantially asdescribed.

In a paper-tube-refolding mechanism, the combination with grooved sidecarryingbelts, of pulleys 12, 14 and 13, 15 supporting said belts andprovided with means for ade justment, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HARVEY S. MUNSON.

Witnesses:

E. GJ THOMPSON, G. M. Boas'r.

IOO

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